Welcome to this week's newsletter
As we reach the end of what has been a short but incredibly busy term, it is worth taking a moment to reflect on just how much we have achieved together. Over the past few weeks we have seen our students rise to the challenge of trial exams, welcomed visitors from Ofsted, enjoyed fantastic musical performances, celebrated success on the sports field (including a first tournament for our new flag football team) and experienced so much more that makes our school such a vibrant place to be. This week, with Mrs Radd leading assemblies on reflection, has also given us a valuable opportunity to reflect on what we should be thankful for, and just as importantly, who we should be thankful to. It has been wonderful to see the value that both staff and students place on the people around them. The appreciation shown for colleagues, friends and members of our wider community is a powerful reminder that we are a team. By supporting one another and working together, we continue to grow stronger as a school community. On a personal note, I found reading the thank you postcards I received, from students and staff, a genuinely uplifting experience. They helped me focus on the many positive aspects of our school and reminded me of the real difference we make to the young people in our care, every single day. Teaching is a truly magical profession, full of golden moments that arrive when you least expect them, and it is a privilege to be part of the Manor community. The Easter break now gives us all two weeks to rest and reflect. For our Year 11 and Year 13 students in particular, this is also an important time to recharge and continue their revision as they prepare for the final push in Term 5 towards the important exams in May and June. Our Year 11 students are showing real focus and determination, and with our Easter revision sessions running, there is additional support available to help them continue their journey of improvement. Next term we will continue our drive for constant and continuous improvement. I am also looking forward to welcoming families to a presentation on Wednesday 22 April where we will share our new pastoral structure, which will come into effect after the examination period in June. There is more information about this later in the newsletter. Finally, I would like to wish all of our students and families a safe and restful Easter break. Please take care, enjoy the opportunity to spend time with family and friends, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back for Term 5 as we begin another positive and productive chapter together.
Adam Crawte, Principal
Pastoral system information evening
As Manor School prepares to join Meridian Trust, we are pleased to invite all parents, carers and students to an information evening on Wednesday 22 April about our new pastoral system, which will begin following the summer examinations in June 2026 and be fully implemented from September 2026. These changes are designed to strengthen the support we provide and ensure a more holistic approach to the academic, social and emotional wellbeing of every student. Our aim is to ensure that all students at Manor School feel well supported, known as individuals, and able to succeed. The evening will include a presentation from Mr Crawte, who will outline the key features of the new pastoral structure and how it will benefit students. Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity to meet senior leaders, find out more about the changes, and discuss how the new system will work in practice. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions. Where possible these will be answered on the evening, with any additional questions addressed in a follow-up communication to families. We hope you will join us for this important and positive step forward for Manor School as we continue our journey of improvement as part of Meridian Trust. We look forward to working together to ensure the very best support for all our students.
Celebrating attendance
Each week we celebrate attendance across the school. Congratulations to the following year and tutor groups with the strongest attendance this week:
- Best overall year group: Year 12, 94.8%
- First place tutor group: 7THS, 97.13%
- Second place tutor group: 6JAN, 97.08%
- Third place tutor group: 8CFI, 96.5%
- Fourth place tutor group: 8MYO, 96.3%
- Fifth place tutor group: 7AJA, 95.2%
Thank you to families for supporting students to attend school every day and arrive ready to learn.
Little Big Band
We are delighted to celebrate a fantastic run of performances from our Little Big Band. The group impressed audiences at the Music for Youth Regional Festival on 14 March and followed this with a brilliant performance at NSG's Jazz Cafe on 25 March. Full of energy, fantastic solos, confidence, and superb musicianship, both performances were a true showcase of the students’ hard work and talent. Huge congratulations to everyone involved — a brilliant achievement!
Brighton Marathon
We are proud that Mr Beeney from our PE department is running in the Brighton Marathon on Sunday 12 April for Northamptonshire Health Charity and their Twinkling Stars appeal. If anyone wishes and is able to donate, please do so by clicking here.
Sports results
Flag football The first-ever flag football tournament at Wellingborough OGs on Friday was a fantastic milestone for our team — and we set the tone early with a strong opening win. Every game was fiercely competitive, featuring explosive long runs, crucial clutch tackles, and impressive teamwork throughout. We managed to score touchdowns in every match, showing great attacking intent and confidence. A brilliant start to our flag football journey, with plenty of positives to build on moving forward.
Football Our Year 8 boys played their final match of the season on Wednesday at home against Huxlow. Despite a strong effort, they were unfortunately beaten by a very good side on an icy cold day. A big thank you goes out to all the players who have represented the team this season, as well as those who have attended training and supported throughout. Your commitment and enthusiasm have made it an enjoyable and successful season overall.
It was then the turn of our Year 7 team to take on Huxlow at home on Thursday. Despite losing to a very strong side, the team produced an excellent second-half performance that was a fitting way to end the year. The boys should be very proud of their efforts throughout the season. A big thank you goes to everyone for their commitment in attending training each week, and we look forward to seeing even more of you involved next year.
Netball It was a challenging but character‑building fixture for Manor on Tuesday as we faced Wollaston, with the final score ending 7–0 in Wollaston’s favour. Despite the result, the scoreline didn’t reflect the effort, determination, or energy shown on court. Wollaston displayed excellent control and precision throughout the match, but Manor refused to let that impact their mentality. The team battled tirelessly until the final whistle, demonstrating real resilience and strong teamwork. In our next fixture against Huxlow, Manor delivered a confident and composed performance to secure a well‑deserved 3–1 victory. It was a competitive game from start to finish, with both sides working hard. The players showed outstanding commitment, focus, and a genuine desire to perform well, with every member of the team contributing. Overall, it was an evening that highlighted Manor’s fighting spirit, determination, and ongoing development on court.
Careers and further education
Medicine webinar
Dentistry webinar